Morning News Digest: January 9th

The federal grand jury investigating the lane closings at the George Washington Bridge has subpoenaed the legislature’s Select Committee on Investigation and any records relating to testimony by Bill Baroni, the former executive director at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey who resigned from the bi-state agency amid scandal in 2013, according to a copy of the subpoena obtained by PolitickerNJ. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)

Before Bridgegate, Chris Christie used Port Authority as political weapon

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was under fire. It was 2012 and the agency had just hiked tolls on area bridges and tunnels. Inside a hearing room on Capitol Hill, the Port Authority’s deputy chief, Bill Baroni, was absorbing withering criticism from Sen. Frank Lautenberg, the late New Jersey Democrat. (Sirotta/IBT)

Baraka on Newark legislator anti-Anderson attack: “It’s not just the angry guy down at City Hall”

NEWARK – Newark Mayor Ras Baraka acknowledged that, following the outburst of opprobrium to Newark Schools Superintendent Cami Anderson and her One Newark school reorganization plan during her recent testimony in Trenton, he now knows for sure that he’s not alone in seeking Anderson’s removal. (Bonamo/PolitickerNJ)

Jesse Jackson on Christie 2016: “Economic justice should be front and center”

NEWARK – The Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., a former presidential candidate, circumspectly assessed the question of whether or not New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie should launch his own run for the White House in 2016 during a visit to Newark on Thursday. (Bonamo/PolitickerNJ)

The newly reconfigured Elizabeth Board of Education was supposed to take over last night and did – kind of – an all out Napoleonic coronation disrupted when newcomer Maria Amin – off script – assumed the chair of command on the board shortly before all hell broke loose. (Pizarro/PolitickerNJ)